FiiO FH1s

FiiO FD1 & FH1s - A twin's tale

Introduction

This is a comparative review of both FD1 and FH1s as it originally appeared at www.hxosplus.gr and now translated for Headfi.
The FD1 sample was kindly provided by FiiO and is under their ownership.
The FH1s was a loaner unit from their Greek distributor.

You can get it from FiiO.eu



FiiO after releasing their top tier FA9 iem (review here https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fiio-fa9.24424/review/24076/ ) have returned at last to the category that they know perhaps the best of all, that of the entry level value for money iems.
And it does so by presenting us at the same time not with one but with two brand new iems the FD1 and the FH1s with the exact same low selling price of about 75€.

FD1

The FD1 is a single dynamic driver iem featuring a 10mm beryllium plated unit with a N50 dual magnetic circuit that delivers 55% stronger magnetic field than traditional designs resulting in an energetic bass performance and an even full transient performance.
Beryllium is four times harder than steel and ¾ lighter than titanium resulting in a better sense of movement and power.
The FD1 is designed with a gold plated aluminum alloy retaining ring and sound tube providing stable cavity for the audible unit.
The FD1 has an impedance of 32 Ohm with a sensitivity of 109dB and a weight of 4.5g per unit.


FH1s

The FH1s is the evolution of the older FH1, a new dual driver hybrid iem with a larger dynamic 13.6mm unit for the low frequencies and a Knowles 33518 balanced armature unit for the middle and high frequencies.
The diaphragm of the dynamic unit is made of bio polymer material while the high frequency unit is placed closer to the ear canal which reduces high frequency loss and improves treble extension.
The BA driver play it's higher frequencies through a brass sound tube which reduces unwanted resonances.
The impedance of the FH1s is 26 Ohm with a sensitivity of 106db while the weight is 4.3gr per unit.


Sharing the same DNA

And the differences between the two models practically stop here since they share the rest of their features.
Firstly the patented precisely tuned pressure balancing system that equalizes the air pressure between the front and the back of the body greatly enhancing the soundstage and reducing ear fatigue while listening.
Secondly they share exactly the same body and appearance and the only way to distinguish them is the FiiO logo which in FD1 is gold while in FH1s it is silver.
The construction material is layered celluloid, which allows for a precision finish with a custom like fit and low weight.
Thanks to the randomness of the layering procedure every faceplate made has it's on unique appearance.
Both earphones feature the same detachable 2 pin cable made of 120 strands of high purity monocrystalline copper in litz braiding.
The quality is really impressive and we wonder how FiiO has managed to put such a cable at this asking price.
Equally impressive are the accessories included with a hard carrying case and seven pairs of ear tips including a memory foam one.


Sound

The similarities continue in the sound as well as the two earphones have the same overall tuning.
The sound is slightly warm and tonally balanced with a very pleasant signature suitable for continuous listening.
As with FA9 FiiO gladly have opted for a more musical approach favoring natural sound and timbre instead of an analytical and sterile presentation.
Bass extends quite well and can reach low notes without exaggerating or overlapping the rest of the frequency spectrum.
Quality is very satisfying with fast performance and adequate layering even during bussy passages.
Transition to the mids is great without midbass bloat
The middle area is slightly forward helping voices and related instruments sound lifelike with presence but without unwanted coloring.
The highs are crispy rendering details with a very physical manner never sounding analytical or harsh.
Decay is good and instrument timbre is quite natural for the price point.
Clarity is excellent and distortion is kept low even at higher volumes.
The headstage is very enjoyable with enough width and instrument separation but don't expect 3D layering or pinpoint accuracy although it is more than enough for the category.
Dynamic performance is very acceptable and both iems can cope with ease with large symphonic works
Fit and comfort are excellent almost custom like and aided by the low weight both iems are suitable for extended listening sessions.
Cable is tangle free , easy to use and without microphonic noise.

Different temperament

So far the performance is extremely good in both models but let's dig now at the small differences that will make for the final choice.
The FD1 stands out with ease at the low frequencies with more energy higher quality and quantity while being clearly more dynamic better layered and full bodied.
In the middle range the performance is generally the same but the FH1s is sounding a bit fuller and more forward.
The FH1s is the better performer regarding detail retrieval and is offering a more airy presentation with finer nuances.
Transient response is a little bit faster as is the decay of higher pitched instruments with the side effect of a little artificial sounding.
Headstage is just a bit more accurate with better instrument placement and a sense of extra breath but some users may find it a little bit dry for their tastes.
The differences we are talking here are small but enough to define two separate personalities with the same tonal identity.

At the end

FiiO's FD1 and FH1s are the same blooded twin brothers who share DNA but with two different temperaments.
Both are excellent performers in every way reaching well above their price point and are offered in a fully loaded package without anything missing.
They are one of the best values on the market right now, a top offer from FiiO in the introductory category and unreservedly recommended for a blind folded purchase.
FiiO has redefined the category raising the bar too high writing the rules from the beginning and clearly stating that low on budget doesn't mean in any way low on performance.
Just excellent.

The test playlist - http://open.qobuz.com/playlist/5669033

Copyright 2020 - Laskis Petros

Fiio FH1s is the latest entry in Fiio’s rich in-ear portfolio, here to carry the torch instead of the older FH1 model. With the price of 69$, it hits that sweet spot of being affordable, yet managing to offer some interesting technical solutions. Without making this review longer than necessary, let’s dive right into it.

BUILD AND FEATURES
FH1s is mostly made out of plastic but it feels sturdy and lightweight. What’s more important is what’s inside of it. To start with a dynamic driver, it is an unusually large 13.6 mm bio-polymer diaphragm. The size of it alone suggests decent bass output, but there’s yet another driver working along it to create higher frequencies. Knowles 33518 balanced armature driver is located closer to the ear, firing through a brass sound tube. Put together, these drivers create a 26 Ohm impedance while offering a sensitivity of 106 dB/mW.

I didn’t have any problems fitting these in my ears, and I also didn’t find them to be overly fussy about the choice of ear-tips. The factory provided worked just fine for me, but I’ve tried another set of aftermarket silicone tips and a pair of foam ones too. All of these provided a very good fit as well as fairly similar sonic results. The cable itself is of a decent quality too. It is prone to tangling a bit, but on a positive side – it’s not microphonic.

Now we got that out of the way let’s dig into the sound quality talks.



SOUND
The first thing I noticed is that Fiio FH1s is tuned to sound attractive and fun. That starts with the weighty and punchy bass-line that is giving a solid base to any of your tunes. In absolute terms, it might be a bit emphasized but it never feels too prominent due to very good control. Weight and attack go hand in hand to create one of the most enjoying bass-lines I’ve heard from any in-ear model.

Moving up the frequency range, slightly recessed lower midrange is noticeable. At least it feels like that next to prominent higher midrange. This means that FH1s are not neutral sounding and they have that slight V-shaped tuning. That works well for many types of music, creating an elevated presence with sparkly, sharp sounding notes and edges. Tone texture is also brought up quite nicely.

Unfortunately, there’s a downside to this approach too. First of all, vocals lack a little bit of their natural body and things can sometimes sound overly sharp. Listening to some vocals, especially the female ones, can bring up snake-like sounding sss, hhh, etc. The effect was easily observable in Charlotte Cardin’s “Like It Doesn’t Hurt” for example.

Other than that, FH1s is capable of creating as wide sound-stage as I’ve ever heard from an in-ear model. There’s a real sense of space and separation that makes even busy tracks a joy to listen to.



COMPARISON
Tin Audio T3 – is equally capable in terms of soundstage width, layering, and separation. They even share similar sibilance I don’t appreciate. But the big difference is in the bass region that T3 sourly lacks while FH1s offers in healthy amounts. This makes all the difference, helping FH1s to sound much weightier, funkier, and more exciting… while T3 is just sterile in comparison. Tin Audio T2 is a much better-balanced earphone, but it still lacks some bass grunt and it’s not as spacious sounding as FH1s.

BLON BL-03 – puts a bigger emphasis on the bass region, sounding even meatier. It’s also not as bright and sharp sounding in the upper region which makes for a somewhat L-shaped sound signature. FH1s again leads in terms of spaciousness.

Moondrop Starfield – has a carefully tuned sound signature that is maybe not as exciting at first. However, it’s more neutral approach with more realistic vocals and tone color that I prefer on a longer run.

SOURCE MATCHING AND EQUALIZING
Due to their sharp and edgy character Fiio FH1s match better with warmer and softer sounding sources. I got a very good result pairing them with Fiio K5 pro. Their overall character was still there, but not as pronounced as with HIDIZS Sonata HD that doesn’t help in taming FH1s’ aggressive top end.

In a few attempts of EQ-ing that edginess out of them, I didn’t really get good results. Problematic vocals kept sounding sibilant even after lowering the 5-10 kHz region by a few dB. Eventually, I killed the sparkle and liveliness of FH1s begore I managed to mitigate the problem. It made me realize that you should either accept this edginess as a part of their character or opt for another model altogether.

CONCLUSION
I felt that Fiio FH1s is a fun and exciting listen. The punchy bass, sharp and edgy character made it so. But make no mistake, these are not neutral and tame, and it takes a bit of care with pairing to get the best result out of them.

....

Video review:



All of my other review here.

Greetings!

Today we're checking out a new budget offering from FiiO, the FH1s.

After building up a great reputation for quality DAPs, DAC/AMPs, and other like devices, FiiO introduced earphones into their lineup and haven't turned back. From their humble beginnings with the EX1 in 2015, basically a Dunu Titan 1 rebrand, FiiO has continued to expand and improve their lineup which now features seven iems (with more on the way), a couple earbuds, and the EH3NC headphones.

The FH1s that we're checking out today is built upon the foundation laid by the original FH1. Gone is the ubiquitous jellybean-shaped shell in favour of a more organic, custom-styled, low-profile design not unlike those recruited by KZ and TFZ for a few of their more popular models (ZS10 Pro, King Pro, etc.). I love this design because the stability and ergonomics are second to none. The 10mm dynamic has also been swapped out in favour of an even larger 13.6mm dynamic with a bio-polymer diaphragm and powerful N50 magnets for improved control and speed. Knowles is still providing the balanced armature (33518) that accompanies the monster dynamic.

Does FiiO's second go at the FH1 formula provide listeners with a compelling reason to drop 69.99 USD? Let's find out.


What I Hear I never had the chance to hear the original FH1 but from what I gather FiiO was looking to address the shortcomings of that model with this revision. What I hear is a reasonably well balanced earphone with a w-shaped signature beset by a prominent upper midrange that skews the tune into being overly bright and quite fatiguing, at least for me. This can be addressed by making adjustments between 1k and 3k using an audiophiles favourite tool; an EQ. I also found that short, wide bore tips like those from JVC mitigated things somewhat for me.

Treble out of the FH1s is for the most part quite pleasant. Extension is great with the presentation having plenty of pizzazz and shimmer up top, and enough lower treble energy to provide gobs of detail without sounding unnecessary or overboosted just for the sake of adding wow factor. As expected from a Knowles driver, attack and decay are both quite quick keeping the FH1s clear and consistent even with busy, congested tracks. While notes are generally well defined, they do edge towards sounding splashy at times so improvements can be made in that area. This region is also not the most natural sounding thanks to a somewhat plasticy edge to everything.

The midrange also suffers from the same issues with timbre thanks to a pretty hefty spike between 1k and 3k. While normally I'm fine with peaks, it seems this one falls into an area I'm particularly sensitive to. This is a first. As a result, the general midrange presentation ends up feeling overly bright and synthetic with the ability to fatigue extremely quickly. Males vocals sound good and fare far better than female which feel quite shouty and sibilant. Way too much sizzle going on here. It's not all bad though. Clarity and note coherence is outstanding with plenty of detail coming through. If you enjoy analyzing the crap out of a tracks midrange, the FH1s is probably the best budget offering I've coming across.

Bass is where I have absolutely no qualms with the FH1s. They picked an excellent driver to handle the low end, and tuned it just right. Extension is top tier and it has no issues digging plenty deep and providing listeners with a warbly, visceral grumble. Mid/subbass balance is quite even, though I wouldn't mind just a hint more midbass to warm things up a bit and help counter that edgy midrange. Texture and detail and quite good. It's not as impressive as some other earphones in its class, but it fits in with the general presentation and takes a step back to let the mid and treble detail shine. For a big driver it's also plenty quick, able to handle rapid transitions and the congested bass lines common to metal tracks with ease.

Sound stage is a another area the FH1s excels in giving off the impression that things are playing just to either side of your head. The emphasized upper ranges ensure there is lots of air for notes to play within, and effects commonly careening off into the distance. This movement is handled smoothly and with nuance, allowing the FH1s to immerse you in tracks that have swirling effects and instruments moving from channel-to-channel. The satisfying depth of the stage permits effective track layering and good instrument separation. Nice sound stage, good technical abilities. Yes please!

Overall I'm of two minds about how the FH1s sounds. On one hand I love the quality bass and raw detail and clarity of the presentation through the mids and treble. On the other hand I find the mids/upper mids to be way too hot and exceptionally fatiguing. If you're not sensitive to that frequency range, you're in for a treat.

Compared To A Peer

Dunu DM-480 (69.00 USD): Treble on the FH1s is better extended with a more even balance between upper and lower regions. The DM-480 in comparison has a more dry feel to it thanks to it's stunted upper treble. The FiiO is brighter and more detailed with improved air between notes and a snappier, faster attack to notes, but at the same time they do not sound quite as well controlled. Both have an elevated upper midrange that keeps the overall presentation somewhat bright. In the case of the FH1s, I find the elevation a bit too much making it quite fatiguing to listen to, even at low volumes. The DM-480 simply comes across somewhat harsh. Foam tips helps smooth out the DM-480's upper mids while shallow wide bore tips have the same effect on the FH1s for me. Not really a fan of the midrange presentation on either model. Bass is where they both shine. The FH1s' larger driver gives off a slower, more visceral experience with better extension compared to the DM-480 which has a tighter, punchier, more textured feel to it. When it comes to sound stage, they have a similar presentation. The FH1s has a more intimate, default vocal presence which usually pulls in the staging, but the additional upper treble helps to add back a bit more air between notes and give it the edge. Technical abilities are also quite comparable. They both image smoothly and accurately with the FH1s' hybrid setup and larger staging giving it's reproduction a slightly more layered and well separated sound. While I find the FH1s the more technically adapt, the enthusiastic upper midrange is a bit much and as a result the DM-480 with it's tighter note presentation ends up being the most pleasing to the ear of the two, at least for me.

In terms of build and comfort these two are mostly a wash for me. The Dunu's tiny shells feel a little more premium thanks to their more organic, 3D printed shape, but the 2-pin system is even less encouraging for long terms use. It's comfortable and isolates better, but I found myself adjusting it more often than the FH1s which rarely required touch ups. FiiO's cable is also more premium feeling and looking thanks to it's twisted design, but, I'm a bit fan of the long term durability of the style of cable Dunu went with. I've got a number of earphones with very similar cables that are many years old and still going strong. As you can see, I'm at odds to which I prefer in this section.

Tinhifi T3 (69.99 USD): Treble on the FH1s is similarly emphasized, extended, and detailed, though the T3 sounds more natural with a more realistic tone and timbre vs. the FH1s' slightly plastic edge. Notes are also better controlled and a little more dense and weight. The FH1s has a more aggressive crack to notes with similarly rapid decay, both of which are presented a little more casually through the T3. The mids of the T3 are notably more balanced and even but not as forward overall. Regardless, the bright, tiring upper mids of the FH1s are nowhere to be found with the T3 again having a more true-to-life presentation thanks to some warmth injected by the midbass region. Speaking of bass, I prefer how it's handled by Tinhifi's hybrid as well. While depth and texture aren't quite a good, nor is it quite as quick, I found it to have a more suitable mid/subbass balance that helps add some warmth and counter the bright, lean, sound that Tin's earphones are known for. The FH1s has a fairly reserved midbass region that does little to soften or counter the brightness which ends up exacerbating what is the problem area to my ears. The T3's sound stage is similarly deep but lacks the width of the FH1s and as such feels a but more confined. This puts it a step behind the FH1s in terms of layering and separation, but I find the T3 to more accurately move sounds channel-to-channel. Overall I much prefer the T3's presentation. While it's technicalities are a subtle step behind FiiO's FH1s, the overall tuning balance and tonality is preferable to my ears, particularly through the midrange.

In terms of build I'm going to have to give it to the T3, comfort to the FH1s. The T3s shells may not be as attractive, nor are they as comfortable and easy to achieve a secure fit, but the machining quality is outstanding for this price point. Also, being entirely aluminum, durability is going to be a bit step up from the FiiOs plastic and metal mix. The MMCX connectors on this Tinhifi model also seem to be holding up extremely well despite numerous cable swaps, mind you, there really is no good reason to change cables. As good as FiiOs cable is, Tin managed to find something even more plush and premium to include with the T3. You can't go wrong with either though.


In The Ear As noted earlier, FiiO has gone with a shell shape that I've seen quite a lot over the last couple years, and that is a good thing. The low profile design conforms to the natural shape of the outer ear providing a stable fit that is only helped further by the use of preformed ear guides. Those who have particularly small ears or outer ears with an unusual shape might have troubles wearing the FH1s, but for the majority they should provide a comfortable wearing experience.

That's helped along by the fact they are so light thanks primarily to the use of plastics for the construction. Fit and finish is excellent with tight seams between the inner half of the shell and face plate. The metal nozzles are glued neatly in place without any excess glue having seeped out. The 2-pin ports are slightly raised and about the only area of concern since I have seen numerous images of this style of port cracking. That said, the raise is fairly conservative with thick sidewalls surrounding the actual ports, so I have faith they'll hold up. One aesthetic touch that FiiO rightly seems proud of is the layered celluloid face plates which are unique from model to model. This is apparently the same material used for guitar picks so durability should be very high.

FiiO always goes the extra yard with their included cables and the FH1s' is no exception. This cable is outstanding for a product under 100 USD, and I'm have been plenty happy to see it included with something notably more expensive. The twisted design is thick but very flexible and not so weighty that it tugs at the earphones while you walk. The 90 degree angled jack in one that FiiO has been using for a while now and has ample strain relief in place to protect the cable. The extension for plug also helps ensure good fitment with a variety of phone and DAP cases. The FiiO branded metal y-split doesn't have any strain relief, but with cables of this style and with splits this compact I've never found it an issue. Sitting just above the y-split is a compact metal chin cinch that moves with just enough resistance to ensure it stays in place while remaining easy to adjust when needed. Leading up to the 2-pin plugs that angle at ~45 degrees are preformed ear guides. Since FiiO went with shrink wrap instead of the hard plastic some manufacturers use, they remain flexible and soft but stiff enough to keep the cable from bouncing out of place. Another nice touch is the redundant left/right markings. On the inside of each plug is a small letter to denote the channel, while on the base of each plug is a coloured pad; red for right, blue for left. It is always nice when companies go out of their way to add various methods of determining channel. Shows an attention to detail that is sometimes lacking in the industry. The only complaint I have is that the plugs sit flush with the raised ports on the earphone instead of wrapping around them like you'll see on similar designs from a few other manufacturers. Leaving this out means the pins are more easily damaged, but treat the product with a modicum of care (ex. use the case and don't simply toss them into a pocket) and you shouldn't have to worry.

Lastly, the FH1s' isolation is not amazing. I'd put it into the “average to slightly below” camp thanks to the reasonably shallow fit that goes along with this shell design, and ample ventilation through a pinhole in front of the driver, and another cleverly hidden behind the 2-pin ports. On the plus side, wind noise is kept to minimum which is cool. They're definitely usable in noisy areas, but you may have to compensate with added volume (less so if you opt for foam tips).


In The Box Even with their inexpensive products, FiiO always puts effort into their packaging. While most could not care less, I do not fall into that camp and always appreciate when a company takes their time to make unboxing their products a positive experience.

With the FH1s you get a fairly large matte black box with a clean image of the FH1s on the front, as well as the prerequisite branding, model info, and Hi-Res Audio logo. Flipping to the back it is oddly barren with only a brief description of the product and a notice that it will likely be upgrade so pictures are for reference only, as well as FiiO's complete name. Grasping the magnetically sealed flap and lifting open the top cover reveals a manual covering two inserts. The top insert contains the earphones on display tucked in a cardboard coated holder, underneath which is the cable neatly wrapped and tied off with a handy Velcro strip. The other insert is a small cardboard box containing the rest of the accessories. In all you get:

• FH1s earphones
• 120-Core high-purity monocrystalline copper cable w/ 2-pin 0.78mm connectors
• HB1 carrying case
• Small bore single flange tips (s/m/l)
• Wide bore single flange tips (s/m/l)
• Memory foam tips (m)
• Velcro cable tie

In all a very satisfying unboxing. The tip selection is good with each style of tips offering a slight variation on the sound signature and use decent quality materials. They're a little stiff in my opinion but still seal well and should be durable in the long run. The HB1 Pelican-style case looks great and has a rubber seal around the base where the lid rests and should offer some water resistance if you're the type to take your earphones out in adverse weather or with you on a camping trip.

Final Thoughts FiiO is very consistent in producing well built, high quality products and the FH1s absolutely displays this. The shells are wonderfully put together with a very cool looking face plate. Comfort are ergonomics are great, the cable is outstanding for the price, and it's all backed by a comprehensive and useful kit of extras. If I were rating this earphone purely on these metrics, it would be a shoo-in for a high recommendation. However, sound also plays arguably the most important roll in an earphone and I found the FH1s to fall a little short.

It certainly has a lot of positives, like its clarity and detail, end-to-end extension, texture, and the speed of the Knowles armature and big old dynamic installed. It's where the midrange general tuning comes in that I have some issues. Bass is fine, but as you head into the mids the upper mid peak results in an unnatural presentation and, at least for me, a very fatiguing sound. The treble is also fairly well emphasized which results in a double dose of brightness. I'd be fine with this if there was more low end warmth to counter, but its just not quite there. At very low volumes or for short, bursty listening sessions at moderate volumes the FH1s was plenty enjoyable, but for any other use case they were simply too fatiguing to use for more than a few minutes at a time. Your experiences may differ and I know there will be many out there that adore this high energy, high detail sound, I just found it a bit overwhelming.

Thanks for reading!

- B9

Disclaimer A huge thanks to Napoller with Hifigo for sending over the FH1s for the purposes of review and trusting me to share my subjective opinions of this product. They do not represent FiiO, Hifigo, or any other entity. At the time of writing the FH1s retailed for 69.99 USD. You can check it out here: https://hifigo.com/products/fiio-fh1s-1baknowles-1dynamic-hybrid-earphone-iem

Specifications

• Driver: Knowles 33518 balanced armature + 13.6mm graphene dynamic driver
• Impedance: 26ohms
• Sensitivity: 106dB
• Frequency response range: 5Hz-40kHz
• Cable: 120-Core high-purity monocrystalline copper cable w/ 2-pin 0.78mm connectors

Gear Used For Testing LG Q70, Earstudio HUD100, Earmen TR-Amp, Asus FX53V, TEAC HA-501

Some Test Tunes

Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Slipknot – Vol 3 (The Subliminal Verses)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
King Crimson – Lark's Tongues in Aspic
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy
Steely Dan – The Royal Scam
Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dreams